BRIEFLY: Used EVs, Global Sales, Honda Prologue & more | 15 Mar 2026
About this episode
A surge in used EVs coming off lease in the US creates new affordable options as tax credit incentives expire. Global EV sales dipped due to China’s market shifts, while Europe saw strong growth. Honda cancels several US EV models, shifting focus back to hybrids amid declining demand. BYD prepares to launch ultra-fast charging tech in Europe, promising rapid battery replenishment. Germany mandates open competition for motorway EV charging, breaking a monopoly. The UK trials vehicle-to-grid tech and maintains its EV mandate review timeline despite industry pressure. Other highlights include Zero Motorcycles’ direct sales model, BMW’s i7 update, and Nissan discontinuing its EV app.
It's EV News Briefly for Sunday 15 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.
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USED EV SUPPLY SET TO JUMP
Over 300,000 EVs are expected to come off lease in 2026, driven by a post-2022 surge in EV leasing fuelled by a federal tax credit loophole under the Inflation Reduction Act. Used EVs are already selling faster than petrol cars, making the incoming supply wave a significant affordability opportunity for buyers.
GLOBAL EV SALES FALL AS CHINA CORRECTS, EUROPE MOVES FORWARD
Global EV sales hit 1.1 million units in February 2026, down 11% year-over-year, with year-to-date totals of 2.2 million units, down 8% versus 2025. Europe was the standout performer, up 21% year-to-date, with Italy posting a record February thanks to subsidies of up to €20,000, while North America fell 36% and China dropped 26% though Chinese EV exports surpassed 500,000 units.
PROLOGUE STUMBLES ON AS HONDA RETREATS FROM EVS
Honda has cancelled three planned US EVs — the 0 Series SUV, 0 Series Saloon, and Acura RSX — citing declining EV demand and the rollback of US EV incentives under the Trump administration. Honda is pivoting back to hybrids, and reports suggest the Prologue will also end production in December, though Honda has called that speculation.
BYD SETS PARIS DEBUT FOR FLASH CHARGING
BYD will unveil its Flash Charging technology and the Denza Z9 GT in Paris on 8 April, showcasing a second-generation Blade Battery that charges from 10% to 97% in nine minutes. The Flash Chargers can deliver up to 1,500 kW using two cables simultaneously, though BYD has not confirmed European cable standards or peak output for that market.
GERMAN MOTORWAY CHARGING OPENS TO COMPETITION
A Düsseldorf court ruled on 6 March that Germany's motorway EV charging market must open to full competition, ending Tank & Rast's de-facto monopoly over fast charging at around 360 motorway service areas. The decision, brought by Fastned, requires open tenders for charging installations later in 2026 and could set a Europe-wide precedent for breaking up incumbent charging monopolies.
UK POWER NETWORKS STARTS UK-FIRST V2G TRIAL
UK Power Networks and Octopus Energy have launched a vehicle-to-grid trial in Amersham, Worthing, and Enfield, allowing EV owners to feed power back to the grid during peak demand. The initiative includes automatic approval of V2G charger connections — a UK first — with UK Power Networks approving 80% of requests compared to the national average of just 11%.
GOVERNMENT HOLDS LINE ON ZEV REVIEW
The UK government has rejected industry calls to bring forward the ZEV mandate review, maintaining a 2026 review with findings due in early 2027. Ministers say the timetable will properly identify pressure points, though the car industry's lobby group SMMT argues the transition was built on assumptions that have since proved incorrect.
ZERO SELLS XB AND XE DIRECT
Zero Motorcycles will sell its XB and XE electric dirt bikes directly to consumers online, shipping them in a crate for home assembly of key components like the battery and front fork. Dealers will continue to sell and service both models, with the direct channel aimed at streamlining fulfilment and better competing with electric off-road rivals.
BMW TEASES 2027 7 SERIES REFRESH
BMW has teased the updated 2027 7 Series ahead of its world premiere next month, with the mid-cycle refresh retaining the kidney grille rather than adopting Neue Klasse styling. The i7 electric variant is expected to receive a larger battery, silicon carbide inverters for better efficiency, and the full-width Panoramic Vision display from the iX3.
NISSAN TO END LEAF REMOTE APP ACCESS
Nissan will shut down the NissanConnect EV app on 30 March, stripping remote charging, pre-heating, and battery monitoring from older Leaf models and e-NV200 vans. The move has drawn criticism from owners who note EVs often remain in use for over 12 years, highlighting a broader industry problem where digital features can become obsolete long before the vehicle itself does.
EV leasing
"Over 300,000 EVs will come off lease in the United States this year, driven by a post 2022 surge in EV leasing, which continued all the way through until the tax credit ended only a few months ago."
Leasing an EV means you rent it for some time instead of buying it, which can cost less each month.
EV leasing is a popular way to drive electric vehicles by renting them for a fixed period, often with lower monthly payments than buying. Leasing has grown significantly, especially after tax incentives made it more affordable.
tax credit
"which continued all the way through until the tax credit ended only a few months ago. And so that tax credit loophole under the Inflation Reduction Act allowed leased EVs to get the discount,"
A tax credit is money the government gives you back when you buy an electric car, making it cheaper.
A tax credit reduces the amount of tax a buyer owes, effectively lowering the purchase price of electric vehicles. In the U.S., tax credits have been a major driver of EV sales and leasing.
Inflation Reduction Act
"And so that tax credit loophole under the Inflation Reduction Act allowed leased EVs to get the discount,"
The Inflation Reduction Act is a law that helps people save money when they lease or buy electric cars by giving them tax discounts.
The Inflation Reduction Act is a U.S. federal law that includes provisions for tax credits and incentives to promote electric vehicle adoption, including benefits for leased EVs which helped boost EV leasing.
used EVs
"used EVs already selling faster than petrol cars on dealer lots making the incoming supply wave, starting this year but set to go on until the end of the decade,"
Used EVs are electric cars that someone else owned before you, often cheaper than new ones.
Used EVs are electric vehicles that have been previously owned. Their growing availability due to lease returns is making EVs more affordable and accessible to a wider audience.
global EV sales
"Global EV sales, 1.1 million last month in February, that was down 11% year on year. And that's the story of China really."
Global EV sales tell us how many electric cars are sold all over the world, showing how popular they are.
Global EV sales refer to the total number of electric vehicles sold worldwide. Tracking these figures helps understand market trends and regional performance in EV adoption.
purchase incentives
"China is where the global figure has wobbled as many sales were bought forward into 2025 for purchase incentive reasons."
Purchase incentives are deals or discounts that help people pay less when buying electric cars.
Purchase incentives are government or manufacturer programs that reduce the cost of buying EVs, such as rebates or tax credits, to encourage adoption.
Acura Rsx
"Honda has cancelled three planned US EVs, I told you earlier in the week about the zero series SUV, the saloon, the Acura RSX."
The Acura RSX is a sporty car from Honda's luxury brand that they planned to make electric but then canceled.
The Acura RSX was a sporty compact car produced by Acura, Honda's luxury brand. Mentioned here as a planned electric model that was canceled.
Honda Prologue
"But what about the prologue? Well they said there was declining US demand in the United States for electric vehicles. Hence the cancellation, Honda is pivoting back to hybrids. The prologue for now stumbles on but it will end production in December this year."
The Honda Prologue is a new electric SUV Honda is making, but they are having some trouble selling it in the U.S.
The Honda Prologue is an upcoming electric SUV from Honda aimed at the U.S. market. It represents Honda's push into fully electric vehicles but has faced production and demand challenges.
BYD
"BYD will unveil its flash charging technology and one of the first cars, well the first car in Europe to be able to use it, the Denzer Z9 GT."
BYD is a big company from China that makes electric cars and batteries, and they have some new fast charging technology.
BYD is a major Chinese electric vehicle and battery manufacturer known for innovations like blade battery technology and flash charging.
flash charging
"BYD will unveil its flash charging technology and one of the first cars, well the first car in Europe to be able to use it, the Denzer Z9 GT. ... Now in China the flash charges do work at 1500 kilowatts, 1.5 megawatt charging is nothing to be sniffed at."
Flash charging means charging an electric car really fast, so you can get a lot of battery power in just a few minutes.
Flash charging is an ultra-fast electric vehicle charging technology capable of delivering very high power (up to 1500 kilowatts), drastically reducing charging times.
D9 Denzer
"...he first car in Europe to be able to use it, the Denzer Z9 GT. 8th of April, less than a month to go in P..."
The D9 is a car made by Denzer, designed to be one of the first in Europe to use a new technology. It's a type of vehicle meant for everyday driving with some special new features.
The D9, specifically the Denzer Z9 GT, is a European car notable for its advanced features, including being the first in Europe capable of utilizing a particular new technology or standard. It represents a significant step in automotive innovation within its market segment.
Denza Z9 GT
"BYD will unveil its flash charging technology and one of the first cars, well the first car in Europe to be able to use it, the Denzer Z9 GT. 8th of April, less than a month to go in Paris,"
The Denzer Z9 GT is an electric car that can charge very fast using new technology from BYD.
The Denzer Z9 GT is an electric car model notable for being the first in Europe to support BYD's flash charging technology.
blade battery technology
"they will showcase their second generation blade battery technology. That's a 97% charge in nine minutes, so 70% charge in five minutes."
Blade batteries are a new kind of battery for electric cars that charge faster and are safer than older batteries.
Blade battery technology is a type of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery developed by BYD that is safer, more durable, and allows for faster charging compared to traditional EV batteries.
megawatt charging
"Multiple reports have speculated that that could only be a thousand, only a thousand, just a megawatt charging when it arrives in Europe. But crucially BYD have not commented yet."
Megawatt charging means charging an electric car with a huge amount of power so it fills up very quickly.
Megawatt charging refers to EV charging systems capable of delivering power in the megawatt range (1000+ kW), enabling extremely rapid battery replenishment.
EV charging network competition
"In Germany a Düsseldorf court ruled earlier this week that Germany's motorway EV charging network must open up to full competition. They have a de facto"
EV charging network competition means more companies can run charging stations, so drivers have more choices and better prices.
Opening EV charging networks to full competition means allowing multiple companies to operate charging stations on public motorways, which can improve prices and availability for EV drivers.
open tenders for charging installations
"A case bought by Fastnet requires open tenders for charging installations going forward. UK power networks and one of the companies that will sell you energy in this country, Octopus, have launched a vehicle to grid trial..."
Open tenders mean many companies can try to get the job to put in electric car chargers, so one company doesn't control everything.
Open tenders for charging installations mean that contracts for installing EV charging points are offered openly to multiple companies, promoting competition and preventing monopolies in the charging infrastructure market.
Octopus Energy
"UK power networks and one of the companies that will sell you energy in this country, Octopus, have launched a vehicle to grid trial allowing EV owners to power the grid at peak demand."
Octopus Energy is a company in the UK that sells electricity, especially green energy, and is trying new ideas with electric cars to help the power system.
Octopus Energy is a UK-based energy company known for its focus on renewable energy and innovative services such as vehicle to grid (V2G) trials, allowing EV owners to contribute energy back to the grid.
vehicle to grid (V2G)
"Octopus, have launched a vehicle to grid trial allowing EV owners to power the grid at peak demand. The initiative includes automatic approval of a V2G charging connection. That's actually a UK first with UK power networks approving 80% of requests compared to the national average of just 11%."
Vehicle to grid means your electric car can give power back to the electricity system when lots of people need it. This helps keep the lights on and can save energy.
Vehicle to grid (V2G) technology allows electric vehicles (EVs) to send electricity back to the power grid during peak demand times, helping to stabilize the grid and optimize energy use. This UK initiative includes automatic approval of V2G charging connections, significantly higher than the national average.
mandate targets
"The UK government has also rejected the car industry's calls to bring forward a review of our mandate targets. They say that will come in 2027. Ministers say the timetable will allow a proper identification of the pressure points..."
Mandate targets are rules from the government telling car companies how many electric or cleaner cars they need to sell by a certain time.
Mandate targets refer to government-imposed regulations that set specific goals for automakers, such as increasing the sales of electric vehicles or reducing emissions by certain deadlines.
gas guzzlers
"The car industry itself wants an easing of the rules to carry on selling more polluting but more profitable gas guzzlers."
Gas guzzlers are cars that use a lot of petrol and are not very good for the environment.
Gas guzzlers are vehicles that consume a large amount of gasoline, typically older or less efficient models, often producing higher emissions and lower fuel economy.
BMW i7
"BMW teasing the updated i7, that will premiere next month with a bigger battery and more efficiency."
The BMW i7 is a fancy electric car that BMW makes. The new version will have a bigger battery so it can go farther and use energy better.
The BMW i7 is an all-electric luxury sedan from BMW's i sub-brand, known for combining electric powertrains with premium features. The updated i7 will feature a bigger battery and improved efficiency.
Nissan ENV200 van
"Nissan is shutting down Nissan Connect, the EV app. At the end of this month, giving owners just two weeks notice, stripping away remote charging, preheating and battery monitoring from older Leafs and ENV200 vans."
The Nissan ENV200 is an electric van used for work. Older models will lose some app controls soon because the company is stopping support.
The Nissan ENV200 is an electric van designed for commercial use, sharing technology with the Nissan Leaf. Like the Leaf, older ENV200 models will lose remote app features due to the Nissan Connect shutdown.
Nissan Leaf
"Nissan is shutting down Nissan Connect, the EV app. At the end of this month, giving owners just two weeks notice, stripping away remote charging, preheating and battery monitoring from older Leafs and ENV200 vans."
The Nissan Leaf is an electric car that has been popular for many years. Some older models are losing the ability to control things like charging and heating from an app.
The Nissan Leaf is one of the world's first mass-market electric vehicles, known for its affordability and practicality. Older Leafs are losing remote features due to the shutdown of Nissan Connect services.
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